Locking latch for container closure



Feb. 13, 1968 H. H. DUBO LOCKING LATCH FOR CONTAINER CLOSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 30, 1964 INVENTOR, Hwaerfl 0050 ATTORNEY 3, 1968 H. H. DUBO 3,368,711

LOCKING LATCH FOR CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed Dec. 30, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet- 2 ii I INVENTOR, s\ l f/AEEYH 0050 mg M M ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,368,711 LOCKING LATCH FOR CONTAINER CLOSURE Harry H. Dubo, Universal Handling Equipment Co., 100 Burland Crescent, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Filed Dec. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 422,237 4 Claims. (Cl. 220-55) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An open-topped, massive refuse container normally subjected to abusive and rough handling and including means for lifting and dumping, in conjunction with coplanar closure panels having a sealing and orientating member overlying their inner edges and a toggle latch on said panels in cooperation with the orienting member and a keeper plate drawing the inner edges together and maintaining dimensional stability.

This invention relates generally to refuse containers suitable for use with transporting and dumping equipment and more particularly to an improved latch means for the closures of such refuse containers.

Containers utilized for handling scrap. materials particularly those used for the collection of commercial and industrial refuse, such as metal scrap, garbage, paper, etc., are relatively massive. Such refuse containers generally are \filled while sitting on the ground or floor and when filled are picked up by transporting and dumping equipment such as a lift truck, for example.

Due to the relatively massive nature of the containers access to the interior for the purpose of loading is oftentimes difficult. This difiiculty is often compounded by the fact that too few access doors are provided in an attempt to construct a container which is sufficiently rigid to withstand rough handling. Some distortion of the container brought about by rough handling is inevitable and as a consequence access closures and their associated latch means fail to align correctly. Such a condition is undesirable from the view point of retention of the material contained therein and also the effect it has upon the rigidity of the container.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel closure latch for refuse containers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel toggle latch for a closure of a refuse container which in addition to securing the container closure also provides structural strength, and dimensional stability so that the container walls do not flex to interfere with the engaging means of the equipment used to pick up, transport and dump the container.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel container closure latch means which is readily installed and operated substantially foolproof after being locked, and which is practical and satisfactory for the purpose intended.

These together with other and more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing forming a part thereof, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a refuse container, intermediate portions being broken away, and showing the toggle latch of the invention in locked relation to the pivoted closure panels thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the closure panels of the container of FIGURE '1, looking at the front of the latched closures from the side opposite that shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the latch device showing the locked closure;

FIGURE 4 shows the parts of the latch device moved toward the position for opening the container closure latch;

FIGURE 5 shows a still further step of manipulation whereby the closure latch is in opened position whereby the container can be opened; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing the appearance of the parts when disposed in the condition shown in FIGURE 5, this being the first step for initiating latching of the closure panels.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and first considering FIGURE 1, a fragmentary portion of a metallic refuse container is indicated generally at 10, which includes a bottom wall 12, a side wall 14, a side wall 16, an upper rear wall 18, a lower rear wall 19, a lower front wall 20 which are rigidly joined by suitable means such as welding, bolting or the like. The container 10 further includes a closure means which includes a closure panel 22 and a closure panel 24. The lower front wall 20 and the lower rear wall 19 are sloped inwardly at the bottom to form a sort of sump for the collection of liquids which may be included with the refuse. The inwardly sloped front wall 20 also enables easy tilting of the container to dumping position when supported by the transporting vehicle. The walls 14-18, when the panels are not secured together, may flex with respect to each other since the container is a relatively massive structure.

The container 10 is hoisted by suitable apparatus by means of lifting pins 26 and a complementing pair of pins, not shown, but located on the exterior of the wall 16. A pin 28 is secured to the lower portion of front wall 20 and functions as a means of securing the container during transport, and as a pivot point about which the container is tilted to discharge the contents.

The front closure panel 22 is pivotally attached to the container by means of integral pivot pins, not shown, which engage supports 30 and 31. The supports 30 and 31 are rigidly secured to the container 10. The closure panel 24 is pivotally attached to the container 10 by means of pivot pins at the top and bottom, one of which is shown at 32. The pivot pins engage supports 33 and 34 which are rigidly secured to the container 10. The closure panel 24 has an overlap 25 secured thereto for reasons which will become apparent later. A novel means for latching the closure panels 22 and 24 is generally indicated at 40. Latch means 40 is secured to closure panel 24 and cooperatesv with a keeper hook 23 which is secured to closure panel 22. In FIGURE 1, the latch means 40 is shown in the locked position.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, it may be clearly seen that latch means 40 includes a U-shaped support member 42 which is rigidly secured to closure panel 24 by suitable means, such as welding, bolting or riveting, for example, and has integral support ears 44 and 46. Parallel lever arms 48 and 50 are pivotally secured to support cars 44 and 46 by means of a pin 52 which passes through arm 48, cars 44 and 46 and arm 50. The pin 52 is secured to arms 48 and 50 by suitable means making certain that the ends of the pin 52 do not interfere with the travel of toggle links 58 and 60 for reasons which will become clear later. A rod 54 is rigidly secured by suitable means, such as welding, for example, to lever arm 48 and lever arm 50 to maintain the arms in a parallel relationship. The rod 54 also functions as an operating handle for the toggle latch 40.

A toggle link pivot pin 56 extends through suitable holes in arms 48 and 50. The pin 56 is rotatably secured to the arms 48 and 50. The toggle link pivot pin 56 supports adjacent its ends a U-shaped toggle link means which includes a toggle arm 58 and a toggle arm 60, and their associated integral locking bar 62 which in use engages the keeper hook 23.

In FIGURE 2, the closure latch is shown in its latched position. The latch may be locked by means of a lock pin 70 (best seen in FIGURES 1 and 6). The lock pin 70 passes through a hole 51 (best seen in FIGURE 6) in lever arm 50, which in the latched position aligns with a hole 71 in a lock pin bracket 72. The bracket 72 is rigidly secured to closure panel 24. A similar looking means, not shown, may be used in connection with lever arm 48. The pin 70 may have a suitable detent means, such as a spring pressed ball, for example, to prevent its withdrawal from bracket 72 during the transporting of the container 10. A padlock or other suitable lock member may be substituted for the pin 70.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, it will be seen that the closure panels 22 and 24 are secured in closed position by the latch means 40, and locked in such position by the lock pin 70. In FIGURE 4, the lock pin 70 has been withdrawn and the lever bar 48 moved in the direction of the arrow to open the toggle latch. In FIGURE 5, we see the toggle latch in the fully open position.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, we see the closure members 22 and 24 in their closed but unsecured position, as shown by the solid lines. When the toggle levers 48 and 50 are moved toward the latched position, as shown in FIGURE 2, the locking bar 62 engages the keeper hook 23. As the toggle link pin 56 passed over dead center, which coincides with a line prependic-ular to closure panel 24 and passing through pin 52, a toggle action occurs which snaps the levers 48 and 50 into latched position. At the same time, the closure panels are brought into closure alignment as shown by the broken lines in FIG- URE 6. Accordingly, the latch 40 not only secures the closure panels 22 and 24 but also stabilizes the container side walls 14 and 16 and maintains proper orientation of lifting pins 26 to provide a refuse container of increased durability and utility. Due to the hard use this type of container receives in use, it is important that the pins are maintained positioned to accommodate the left arm of the left vehicle (not shown).

While a preferred form of the invention has been set forth, it is to be understood that variations may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from. the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A relatively massive refuse container comprising in combination: relatively flexible, substantially planar side walls integral at one edge with a relatively flexible, substantially planar transverse wall, a pair of substantially planar closure panels hinged on a pivot axis at the other edge of said side walls, said closure panels including confronting, abutable inner edges, one of said closure panels including an integral plate member secured to and extending substantially the length of and laterally beyond said inner edge thereof for orienting said closure panels into coplanar relation and stabilizing said walls and plates into rectangular relationship; means on said container oriented in relation to the stabilized orientation of said walls and panels for permitting said container to be dumped; and toggle latch means and a keeper plate on respective closure panels for retaining and drawing said inner edges into abutting engagement when the container panels are closed, said keeper plate comprising an elongated member secured on the outer surface of one panel and extending a substantial length along the inner edge thereof, said keeper plate including a portion spaced from the outer surface of said one panel and defining a recess therebeneath opening away from said inner edge, said toggle latch means comprising a member secured on the outer surface of said other panel and spaced from the inner edge thereof, elongated, mutually parallel lever arms pivotally connected at one end to said member on an axis of rotation spaced outwardly from the outer surface a distance greater than the depth of said recess, a handle etxending integrally between the other ends of said lever arms for stabilizing pivotal movement of the same, a pair of elongated, mutually parallel toggle links pivotally connected at one end to intermediate portions of said lever arms on an axis of rotation parallel to said inner edges, said toggle links being pivotal in planes respectively extending beyond the terminal ends of said keeper plate recess, and a lock bar extending between the other ends of said toggle links for removable receipt in said recess.

2. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said lever arms and toggle links are flat, juxtaposed elements for maintaining pivotal movement substantially stable, and elongated pivot pins respectively extending between said member and said levers, and said links and levers, and defining the pivot axes thereof.

3. The structure as claimed in claim 2 in which said member on said other panel comprises an elongated U- shaped element having a base portion secured on said other panel and including projecting ears upon which said levers are respectively pivotally mounted.

4. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which one of said levers includes an aperture therethrough parallel to the pivotal axis thereof, a lock plate secured to said other panel and including an aperture alignable with said first-mentioned aperture, and a lock pin removably received in said aligned apertures.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,750,064 6/ 1956 Clarke 292256.69 2,943,753 7/1960 Keys 220-34 3,125,367 3/1964 Koch 292247 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

THERON E. CONDON, Examiner.

G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner. 

